Washing device with water pickup attachment



May 12, 1959 v. MORRILL WASHING DEVICE WITH WATER PICKUP ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. e, 1956 Melvin V. Morril/ INVENTOR.

United States Patent WASHING DEVICE WITH WATER PIGKUP- ATTACHMENT Melvin V. Morrill, Tacoma, Wash.

Application February 6, 1956, Serial No. 563,537

1 Claim. (Cl. -322) This invention relates in general to washing attachments, and more specifically to washing attachments of the scrubbing type which are primarily intended for use in scrubbing floors and the like, although the invention is not so limited.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved washing device of the scrubbing type which includes a scrubbing attachment engageable with a floor or other surface being scrubbed, there being provided a suitable water supply source attached to the scrubbing atttachment whereby water is continuously furnished the scrubbing attachment, and there being associated with the scrubbing attachment a vacuum cup fitting which permits the Water which passes out of the scrubbing attachment to be picked up whereby once the floor or other surface is scrubbed there remains no water residue.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved washing device which includes fittings for attachment to a water supply, such as a faucet and to a portable vacuum cleaner unit, the washing device including -a scrubbing attachment and a vacuum suction fitting whereby water is simultaneously supplied to the scrubbing attachment and removed from the surface being scrubbed by the vacuum suction fitting.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved washing device which is so constructed whereby floors and other surfaces may be scrubbed utilizing a cleansing agent combined With a water source, then rinsed by providing a clear water supply and when the scrubbing and rinsing operation is completed the water utilized in both the scrubbing and rinsing operation no longer remains, this being taken away by a vacuum attachment.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the washing device which is the subject of this invention and shows the general details thereof, the washing device being attached to a water faucet and a portable vacuum cleaner unit;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken through the head of the washing device and shows the specific details of both the scrubbing attachment and the vacuum suction fitting;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the head of the Washing device and shows the general arrangement of the scrubbing attachment and the vacuum suction fitting; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 1 and shows the manner in which both an intermediate portion of the water supply hose and the cleansing agent supply is supported with respect to the handle of the washing device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen 2,885,713 Patented May 12, 1959 ence. numeral 12. The head 12 includes a top wall 14,

a vertical peripheral wall 16 and a bottom wall 18. Se-

cured to the top wall 14 by means of an ear 20 and a pivot pin 22 is a handle 24 for manipulating the washing evice.

Carried by the top wall 14 and extending therethrough is a pipe fitting 26, the pipe fitting 26 being clamped to the top wall 14 by a lower nut 28 and a hose connector 30. Depending from the pipe fitting 26 is a curved mounting plate 32 which has secured to the underside thereof a scrubbing attachment in the form of a sponge 34. The sponge 34. is communicated with the interior of the pipe fitting 26 and extends downwardly through the bottom wall 18. The bottom wall 18 is provided with a plurality of spaced prongs 36 which extend into the sponge, 34 and retain it in position.

Carried by the handle 24 is a pair of spaced clamps 38 and 40. The clamp 38 is disposed lowermost and supports a T-.fitting 42. The clamp 40 supports a T-fitting in the form of a valve 44.

Extending between the Pipe fitting 26 and the T-fitting 42 is a short section of hose 46. A similar short section of hose 48 extends between the T-fitting 42 and the valve 44. Connected to the valve 44 is an elongated water supply hose 50 whose opposite end is provided with a suitable fitting 52 for securement to a Water faucet, such as the water faucet 54. Thus a ready supply of water is provided the scrubbing attachment portion of the washing device 10.

In order that a cleansing agent, such as a detergent, may be supplied to the water entering into the sponge 34, as desired, there is provided a cleansing agent container 56. The container 56 is carried by a suitable bracket 58 which is supported by a plurality of braces 60 and 62 secured to the fittings 42 and 44, respectively. The container 56 is provided with a discharge tube 64 whose opposite end is connected to the T-fitting 42. The discharge tube 64 is provided with a valve 66 for controlling the supply of a cleansing agent, such as detergent, to the T-fitting 42. The valve 44 is utilized to control the water supply to the sponge 34.

Extending down through the top wall 14 of the housing 12 is a vacuum suction fitting 68. The fitting 68 extends down through an opening 70 in the bottom wall 18 and includes an entrance opening 72. Connected to the upper end of the vacuum suction fitting 68 is a vacuum hose 74 whose opposite end is connected to a portable vacuum cleaner unit which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 76. The vacuum cleaner unit 76 may be of any desired type.

Carried by the rear edge of the housing 12 is a wiping strip 78. The wiping strip 78 is preferably in the form of a chamois.

In the operation of the washing device 10, the washing device is positioned as is best illustrated in Figure 1. Then the valve of the T-fitting 44 is opened so that water is supplied to the sponge 34. Inasmuch as it is necessary normally to provide a suitable cleansing agent to effect the proper cleaning of the floor, the valve 66 is also opened to supply the cleansing agent to the water. At the same time, the vacuum cleaner unit 76 is in operation. As the water and cleansing agent passes out of the sponge 34 during a scrubbing operation, the water and cleansing agent is picked up by the suction fitting 68 and is drawn into the tank of the vacuum cleaner unit 76. Further, the surface of the floor is wiped substantially dry by the wiping element 78. After the floor has been properly scrubbed, it may be rinsed, if desired, by merely shutting olf the valve 66 and permitting clean water only to be admitted to the sponge 34. This rinse water will also be removed by the vacuum cleaner unit 76 and the floor wiped .dry by the wipingielement 78.

Although the present invention is primarily intended for use in scrubbing floors, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be so limited. Because of the provision of the vacuum suction fitting 68 and the wiping element 78, with care, the invention may be used in scrubbing walls, ceilings and the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A washing device comprising a hollow head, said head including a top wall and a bottom wall disposed in spaced relation, a handle carried by said top wall for manipulating and positioning said head, a water fitting carried by and extending through said top wall, a container carried by said handle, said container adapted to carry a cleansing agent, means communicating said container with said water fitting, said means including at least one valve, a mounting bracket carried by said water fitting within said head, said mounting bracket being disposed adjacent to a forward part of said head, a sponge having an upper portion engaging said mounting bracket for receiving water from said water fitting, an opening in said bottom wall aligned with said mounting bracket, said sponge projecting through said opening and down slightly below said bottom wall, retaining members on said bottom wall engaging said sponge and retaining said sponge in compressed engagement with said mounting bracket, a wiper member on said head at the rear edge of said bottom wall, a rear opening in said bottom wall adjacent said wiper member, a rear opening in said top wall, a suction head extending down through said top wall rear opening into said housing and terminating at said bottom wall in alignment with said bottom wall rear opening, and a vacuum line attached to said suction head whereby water accumulated by said wiper member is withdrawn by said suction head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

